How Many Candidates Qualify for UPSC Mains 2025?

How Many Candidates Qualify for UPSC Mains 2025? A total of 14,161 candidates qualified for the UPSC Mains 2025 based on their performance in the Preliminary Examination. Out of them, 2,736 candidates have been shortlisted for the Interview/Personality Test round. The number of Mains qualifiers usually depends on the total vacancies, which for 2025 stand at 979, and follows UPSC’s trend of selecting around 12–14 times the number of vacancies for the Mains stage.

How Many Candidates Qualify for UPSC Mains 2025?

How many candidates qualify for UPSC Mains 2025 has now been officially announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). A total of 14,161 candidates have been shortlisted for the Mains stage based on their performance in the Preliminary Examination. This number is determined by the important UPSC Prelims-to-Mains ratio. It is maintained between 12 to 14 times the total number of notified vacancies. Understanding this ratio and analyzing previous year trends. It includes the number of applicants, exam takers, and shortlisted candidates. These insights help aspirants assess competition and make proper strategy for upcoming stages.

How Many Candidates Qualify for UPSC Mains 2025? 

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted in three stages with Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Qualifying for the Mains exam is the most critical step. It transitions an aspirant from the high-attrition, multiple-choice Prelims stage to the intensive and descriptive stage.  The number of candidates who qualify for the UPSC Mains is decided based on the official UPSC rule.  As per the qualification rule, the number of candidates declared qualified for the Mains examination is approximately 12 to 14 times the total number of vacancies to be filled in that particular year. As per the UPSC CSE 2025 vacancies the total number of vacancies for the UPSC CSE 2025 cycle is officially 979.

Based on these figures, here is the projected calculation for how many candidates qualify for UPSC Mains 2025:

How Many Candidates Qualify for UPSC Mains 2025
Parameter Calculation Actual / Expected Number
Total UPSC CSE 2025 Vacancies 979
Lower End of Qualification (12x) 979 × 12 11,748 Candidates
Higher End of Qualification (14x) 979 × 14 13,706 Candidates
Actual Number Qualified for Mains 2025 14,161 Candidates
Projected Ratio 14,161 ÷ 979 ≈ 14.46x

UPSC CSE Mains 2025 Qualified Candidates Statistics Projected

The official results for the UPSC CSE 2025 Preliminary Examination have been released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). According to the latest data, 14,161 candidates have qualified for the Mains stage. The table below summarizes the official and projected statistics for the 2025 cycle. 

The table below provides statistics for the 2025 cycle,.

UPSC CSE Mains 2025 Qualified Candidates Statistics 
UPSC CSE 2025 Exam Stage Status Projected/Expected Number
Total Candidates Applied Pre-Exam 12.5 Lakh – 14.5 Lakh
Total Candidates Appeared for Prelims Pre-Exam 5.5 Lakh – 7.5 Lakh
Candidates Qualified for Mains Post-Prelims Result 14,161 (Official)
Total Vacancies Official 979

UPSC CSE Previous Years Qualified Candidates Statistics, Past Trends

Analyzing previous year statistics is important to understand the competition level of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The data below illustrates the filtering process between the Prelims and Mains stages. 

UPSC CSE Previous Years Qualified Candidates Statistics
Session Total Candidates Applied Candidates Appeared for Prelims Candidates Qualified for Mains Total Vacancies
2024 ~13.4 Lakh N/A (High est.) 14,627 1,105
2023 ~13.0 Lakh 5,92,141 (Official) 14,624 1,105
2022 11,52,000 5,73,735 13,090 1,011
2021 10,93,948 5,08,619 9,214 712
2020 10,40,060 4,82,770 10,564 796

Note: Data for Applied and Appeared candidates often varies slightly across sources. The Qualified for Mains and Vacancies figures are consistent with official announcements.

UPSC CSE 2024 Prelims Statistics: Qualified Candidates for Mains

The UPSC CSE 2024 examination saw an increase in the number of candidates qualifying for the Mains stage compared to 2023. Here is the statistics for UPSC CSE 2024 prelims: 

UPSC CSE 2024 Prelims Statistics
Particulars UPSC CSE 2024 Statistics
Total Vacancies Announced 1,105
Total Candidates Applied Estimated 13.4 Lakh
Prelims Exam Date June 16, 2024
Prelims Result Date July 1, 2024
Candidates Qualified for Mains 14,627

UPSC CSE 2023 Prelims Statistics: Qualified Candidates for Mains

The UPSC CSE 2023 cycle had the highest number of qualified candidates for the Mains exam in recent years. Also, there were a high number of vacancies. Here is the statistics for cse 2023 prelims:

UPSC CSE 2023 Prelims Statistics
Particulars UPSC CSE 2023 Statistics
Total Vacancies Announced 1,105
Total Candidates Applied Estimated 13.0 Lakh
Candidates Appeared for Prelims 5,92,141
Prelims Exam Date May 28, 2023
Candidates Qualified for Mains 14,624

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UPSC CSE 2022 Prelims Statistics: Qualified Candidates for Mains

In 2022, the qualification ratio was strictly followed. It resulted in a predictable number of candidates moving to the Mains stage. Here are the statistics for CSE 2022 prelims:

UPSC CSE 2022 Prelims Statistics
Particulars UPSC CSE 2022 Statistics
Total Vacancies Announced 1,011
Total Candidates Applied 11,35,697
Candidates Appeared for Prelims 5,73,735
Prelims Exam Date June 5, 2022
Candidates Qualified for Mains 13,090

UPSC Mains 2025 Statistics 

The following table provides important statistics related to the UPSC Mains 2025 exam. It includes the number of candidates who appeared, qualified, and advanced via multiple stages of the selection process. These figures mention the competitive nature of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 from prelims to the Interview stage.

UPSC Mains 2025 Statistics 
Question Shortest Answer Stage
how many candidates appeared for upsc exam 2025 Approx 13.4 Lakhs Total candidates who appeared for the Prelims exam.
how many candidates give upsc exam 2025 Approx 13.4 Lakhs Total candidates who appeared for the Prelims exam.
how many people qualified for upsc mains 2025 14,161 Candidates who cleared the Prelims and were eligible for the Mains.
how many candidates selected for upsc mains 2025 14,161 Candidates who cleared the Prelims and were eligible for the Mains.
how many candidates applied for upsc mains 2025 14,161 Candidates who filled the DAF-I after clearing the Prelims.
how many candidates appeared for upsc mains 2025 14,161 Candidates who took the Mains written exam (August 22 – 31, 2025).
how many people write upsc mains 2025 14,161 Candidates who took the Mains written exam.
how many candidates cleared upsc mains 2025 2,736 Candidates who qualified for the Personality Test stage.
how many candidates qualify for upsc mains 14,161 Candidates who cleared the Prelims and reached the Mains stage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many candidates qualify for UPSC Mains 2025?

The official number of candidates who qualified for the UPSC Mains 2025 is 14,161 as per the announcement by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

How many candidates applied for UPSC Mains 2025?

The total number of aspirants who applied for the UPSC Prelims 2025 is expected to be around 12.5 lakh to 14.5 lakh.

How many candidates appeared for UPSC exam 2025?

The number of candidates who appeared for the UPSC Prelims 2025 is around 50% of the applicants. Therefore, the estimated number of candidates who appeared is likely to be between 5.5 lakh and 7.5 lakh.

What is the ratio of candidates selected for UPSC Mains?

The UPSC consistently selects candidates for the Mains exam at a ratio of approximately 12 to 14 times the total number of vacancies announced for Civil Services Examination of that year.

How Many Candidates Qualify for UPSC Mains 2025?

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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